Over-engineered robotic scalp scratcher is aware of all of the strikes

These low-cost wire-arm head massagers are nice at giving your scalp a pleasant, stress-free rub. However they’re handheld implements that power the person to both manipulate the massager themselves or speak a companion into performing the duty. David McDaid determined that the expertise could be way more nice if a robotic took care of the arduous work, so he constructed this Stewart platform head massager.

A Stewart platform is a dexterous manipulator usually used with robotic finish effectors or for orienting gear. The usual setup requires six linear actuators, every with common joints on each ends. The actuators mount between two plates in an association that provides the highest plate six levels of freedom (DoF): pitch, roll, yaw, and linear motion in every of the three spatial axes. A Stewart platform is ideal for this software, as a result of it lets the robotic transfer the top massager in quite a lot of completely different ways in which mimic handbook motion.

McDaid created his personal Stewart platform utilizing an Arduino Mega 2560 board and 6 AX-12A servo motors instead of the same old linear actuators. Using servos impacts the kinematics to some extent, however not sufficient for it to be a difficulty in an software like this that doesn’t require a lot accuracy. McDaid designed his personal customized PCB for this challenge, which is a protect for the Mega that simplifies the ability connection. That energy comes from a pastime LiPo battery pack with an XT60 connector. The mechanical components, together with the servo arms, body, and massager mount, have been all designed in Fusion 360 after which 3D-printed.

The completed robotic head massager is ready to carry out many various motions, making certain whole rest with minimal bodily exertion.